The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1887-07-20
GOV. MARTIN SPEAKS.
The Associated Press Gets
u Bigger Dispatch than
Ii Bargained For.
That AtchisOn Story was q Whis-
Ky RO0rbach.
Kansas Prosperity Us. Saloon Er.
tremity.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.


CHICAGO, July 13.--The follow.
ing was received here to-day:
STATE OF KANSAS, EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT, Topeka KAN.July IL.
William Henry Smith, General
Manager, Associated Frees:
MY DEAR SIR:-On the End Of
July inst, special dispatch was
sent from st. Joseph, Mo-, to q
Chicago paper, in which it was
stated that the closing of the ga
looms in Atchison, Kss., has cut off
the most profitable source of reve-
nue., amounting to thousands of
dollars q year, and as result the
city has not revenue to keep going ;
that the police force with the ex-
ception of the marshal and one
policeman had been suspended ;
that the services of the firemen
were to be dispensed with, and
that the gas and electric lights
were to be shut off"
This dispatch was utilized by
the Associated Press, and thus
Published in all parts of the coun-
try. AS a result l have received
many letters from different sec
tions, making inquiry as to the
truth of the statement it EN- bodied,
and have seen it's alleged facts
commented on in dozens of news-
papers as evidence that the aboli-
ton of saloons has reduced q pros
porous city in Kansas to the verge
of bankruptcy. Similar Letters
have been received by the Mayor
of Atchison, and by those Of many
other cities of Kansas.
JEALOUSY OF A RIVAL CITY.
The dispatch referred to was
prompted by two motives. 1t was
first sent from a town in Missouri,
for the purpose of injuring rival
city in Kansas and second, it was
inspired by the whisky interests,
and tended to create the lmpres
sion that an efficient city govern
ment could not be main tanned
without the revenue obtained from
saloon Licenses. The city of Atchi-
son has been tor many years
one of the most important railroad
and commercial cente of Kansas.
LII the whisky interests could Gre
ate the impression that Atchieon
had been materially injured be-
cause the saloons had been driven
out of it, serio as blow would BE-
dealt the Temperance cause. The
Associated Press is giving this
false special such wide pu Dliclty
that makes 1t the unconscious agent
of malicious Islander, whose pur
poses were as unworthy as the
statements were unfou nded. l deem
it my duty to correct the false i'm
preston thus created, and respect
fully ask that this letter be given
as wide a circulation as the dis.
patch which prompts 1T.
CONDITION OF ATCHIsoN.
I am thoroughly familiar with
the condition of the city of Atchi.
son, and personally know that the
statements embodied in the ST..
Joseph dispatch are false ard
misleading. The gas, electric
light and water supply of the city
have never been turned eff l :
fire department has been, and IL,
continuously on duty. Its police
force has been largely reduced, but
in the absence of saloons, beer
pie to preserve the peace and
protect the property of its citizens
A dispute concerning taxation and
in voiving the adoption Of d tax
which has been collected in the
city of st. Joseph for many years
past, il the only foundation for the
malicious ind untru hful dispatch
from that place.
AichisoD abolished the list OF lite
saJoons in the fail Of 1884 The